Places Of Visit
Places to Visit in Vaishno Devi
Perched in the tranquil Trikuta ranges amidst the misty environs, Mata Vaishno Devi temple is believed to be the conjecture of all energies presiding on our Earth. All negative and positive energies bow their heads in Vaishno Devi to seek the blessing of the Divine Mother who is known to be the creator of everything and everyone. Vaishno Devi has many divine gems hidden in the laps of nature, among which a few are named below. Do visit these places if you are visiting Vaishno Devi as a pilgrim because there’s no better redemption from sins than visiting the Goddess in her most surreal form!
1. Vaishno Devi temple
Vaishno Devi temple is known to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India which lies among the Trikuta Mountains. The temple is like a piece of heaven situated serenely amidst the clouds. To reach the temple you have to take the 12 km trek from Katra because the temple is perched at an altitude of 52000 feet. You must be prepared to trek, but if you are traveling with some senior citizens or you can’t walk on the slope, then you can choose pony or doli rides or choose the helicopter service as well. There are three pindis at Vaishno Devi that symbolize the manifestation of three Goddesses in Hindu mythology: Goddess Lakshmi, Kali, and Saraswati. Mata Vaishno Devi is the union of the three supreme Goddesses and when you visit Vaishno Devi, you can witness the real auspiciousness and power of Adi Shakti in a life-changing way. /p>
2. Ardh Kuwari Temple
Located almost on the midway of the hiking path towards Vaishno Devi Shrine the Ardh Kuwari Temple, is a well-known destination for the pilgrims. As per the legends, Mata Vaishno Devi took shelter in the cave for 9 months while she was hiding from Bhairavnath. The Goddess meditated in the cave uninterruptedly, like how a kid calmly lives in the womb. This is one reason for which the local believes that anyone who steps foot in the temple won’t face any problem during childbirth, and so Vaishno Devi darshan is incomplete without praying at the Ardha Kuwari Caves.
3. Dera Baba Banda
This is more of a Sikh pilgrimage site where Baba Banda Bahadur took his last breath. He was a revered saint soldier of Guru Govind Singh who spent his last days on the banks of Chinab. Now a Gurudwara is built there, and the holy site has the ashes of Banda Bahadur along with the arrows gifted by Guru Govind Singh to him.
4. Bhairavnath Temple
If you have done your research on Vaishno Devi, then you probably know that a number of tales spin around the cave. As per mythological scripts, Bhairav Nath was a saint who tried to forcefully marry Vaishno Devi thinking she is an ordinary girl. But when Mata Vaishno Devi took the form of Goddess Durga, Bhairavnath pleaded to the Goddess for forgiveness. Moved by his prayers, the Goddess gave him her blessings with a boon that freed him from the repeated cycles of birth and death. People who pray at the Bhairavnath Temple, are believed to get Moksha when they pray with the purest of intentions.
Each of the above-listed destinations has its own tales. Although the origin of the caves is a complete mystery, the stories attached with the temples make these caves special. Visit them once to witness divinity in its purest forms and find your spiritual gateway.